NAR to Host Housing Summit

As the leading advocate for homeownership, the National Association of REALTORS® will host a summit of policy makers, industry leaders, and government stake holders to develop strategies to help stabilize and revitalize the nation’s housing market and economy.

“Homeownership is an investment in your future, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “Our goal is to develop solutions and recommendations for Congress and the administration so that they can develop strong housing policies to stabilize the nation’s housing market and lead the country out of today’s economic struggles.”

The event is scheduled to take place early in October in Washington, D.C. While planning is still underway, NAR expects that REALTOR® leaders will join legislators, government officials, business leaders, top industry executives, and economists to design a housing recovery plan that will address today’s critical homeownership, mortgage finance and real estate investment challenges.

A housing recovery is key to America’s economic strength, and NAR wants to make sure that any proposed legislation and regulatory rules or changes to current programs and incentives help address industry issues and don’t further exacerbate problems within the fragile real estate industry.

“To move the real estate market and economy forward there needs to be a broad discussion among all stakeholders about what needs to be done to reshape real estate in America and put the country back on the right track,” said Phipps. “We look forward to delivering valuable recommendations and solutions to promote home ownership and restore the nation’s housing industry and economy.”

Police are warning that squatters are getting more clever, even presenting fake deeds to try to prove ownership of a property without ever paying a dime.

A Raleigh, N.C., man was recently arrested and faces several charges for allegedly squatting for at least seven months in a home valued at nearly $2 million and filing a fake deed and paperwork with the county, according to police.

Thomas Everette Jr., 31, allegedly created a fake company--the International Fidelity Trust--and created forged documents and a false deed that he filed at the county’s Register of Deeds to transfer the home to himself at no cost, according to police reports.

The $1.9 million, 7,664-square-foot home, which fell into foreclosure last year, boasts six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, theater and game rooms, a wine cellar, elevator, and a swimming pool.

A neighbor had contacted police to report someone living in the home since February. Everette avoided arrest back in February by showing paperwork that showed him as the trustee of the property.

State Attorney General Roy Cooper recently warned city officials that a group of residents had been filing fake paperwork at the county’s Register of Deeds office trying to claim ownership of at least six foreclosed homes.